XII century in Smolensk: temples, ruins, culture

A walk through the architectural monuments of the pre-Mongol period and a story about the earliest centuries in the history of Smolensk

Smolensk is on a par with the oldest cities of Russia. As early as 863, the Varangians Askold and Dir left a "review" about it: "The city is great and many people." And the 12th century was the time of the heyday of the city, when about four dozen stone temples appeared in it and nearby. Three of them are currently existing and operating. But the land here holds many ruins of large and small buildings, some of which can still be seen in very unexpected places. Fuel our time machine and go back almost a thousand years!

What do we do on the tour?

• We will examine three churches of the 12th century: the temples of Peter and Paul, John the Theologian and Michael the Archangel – architectural treasures of Smolensk.
• Let us touch the masonry made by medieval builders.
• We look at the mysterious marks and signs on the plinth and find out what hypotheses scientists at different times put forward about them.
• Let’s talk about the most mysterious building of medieval Smolensk, which has a twin in Sweden.
• We will look for traces of Monomakhov Cathedral, a columnless church and a princely tower on the Cathedral Hill.
• We will visit Smyadyn – an ancient pier, where in 1015 Prince Gleb was killed, together with his brother Boris, who became the first Russian Orthodox saint.
• We will find the ruins of the cathedral hidden among the gardens and chicken coops, the frescoes of which are stored in the Hermitage.
• We will learn to see the features of the Smolensk architectural school, the masters of which were built in Veliky Novgorod and, probably, even in Kiev.

Price (total amount for the whole group excluding transport):

• 1-5 people - 7,000
• 6-10 people - 8,000
• 11-15 people - 9,000
• 16-20 people - 10,000
• 21-25 people - 11,000
• 26-30 people - 12,000
• 31-35 people - 13,000
• 36-40 people - 14,000
• 41-45 people - 15,000
• 46-50 people - 16,000

Organizational details:

The route is 8 km long. This tour is usually conducted using a car, as the objects are at a considerable distance from each other. The duration of the tour when moving by car is 3 hours. The use of the car is stipulated separately, the cost of renting a minivan or minibus is from 1200 rubles per hour. By agreement, pedestrian or sports jogging options of the excursion are possible (check the price). When visiting temples, it is necessary to follow the rules established by the diocese (consult with a guide), ladies will need headgear. Places of start and finish – as agreed.

Attractions on the route:

The Church of Peter and Paul on Gorodyanka, the Church of John the Theologian on Varyazhki, the Church of Archangel Michael (Svir), the place of conservation of the ruins of the Smolensk rotunda, the ruins of the Cathedral on the Protoka, Smyadyn Bay, the Temple of Boris and Gleb - the location of the monastery of the 12th century.

• Excursion service along the route.

The objects are located far from each other, transport is necessary for the excursion.